Automatic handweaving loom device



March 29, 1960 F. SCHRAEGLE AUTOMATIC HANDWEAVING LOOM DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1957 IN VENTOR Fr/fz .Schraeg/e March 29, 1960 F. SCHRAEGLE 2,930,410

AUTOMATIC HANDWEAVING LOOM DEVICE Filed June 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fri/z Schraeg/e "@MMfM ATTORNEYS March 29, 1960 F. SCHRAEGLE AUTOMATIC HANDWEAVING LOOM DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 4, 1957 I N VENTOR F r/fz Schraeg/e x/MM ATTORNEYS March 29, 1960 F. SCHRAEGLE AUTOMATIC HANDWEAVING LOOM DEVICE Filed June 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Fri/z Schraeg/e cfiiwwlwg ATTORNEYS F. SCHRAEGLE AUTOMATIC HANDWEAVING LOOMDEVICE March 29, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 4. 1957 IN VENTOR Fri/z Schraeg/e' fiwzm, MfM

ATTORNEY 3 F. SCHRAEGLE AUTOMATIC HANDWEAVING LOOM DEVICE March 29, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 4, 1957 IN VENTOR Fr/fz Schraeg/e ATTORNEY S Unitd States Patent AUTOMATIC HANDWEAVINGLOOM DEVICE Fritz Schraegle, Bcnsheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany Application June 4, 1957, Serial No. 663,463 Claims priority, application Germany February 26, 1955 7 Claims. (Cl. 139-30) This invention relates to looms, and more particularly, to a Weaving device in which the reciprocation of the beater automatically operates the selection of patterns, the raising of frames to effect the selected pattern, the movement of the shuttle, the controlof the width of the cloth beam, and the advancement of the cloth beam. This is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application, Serial No. 539,249, filed October 7, 1955, now abandoned.

In known loom construction, particularly in the fioor looms or weaving machines, the setting of a pattern in the harness, the pedaling out of the sequence of the pattern, the throwing of the shuttle, the control of the width of the cloth beam as it is woven, and the advancing of the cloth beam are functions which are carried out by separate hand and leg movements.

In the harnessing of a loom, there is required considerable specialized knowledge in regard to eifecting the proper tie-up. Also, intiicate knowledge is required to set up the desired pattern. Before a loom can be placed in operation, work such as threading or draw-in must be arranged properly and the tie-up effected according to the pattern selected. The weaving of the pattern or design after the patterns are tied up requires the operation of a number of foot-pedals operated in a prescribed order. Also, when the shuttle is not manipulated by hand, a fly-shuttle method is used in which one hand moves the heater, and the other hand triggers the shuttle by means of a handle equipped with strings that are connected to the picker. All of these individual operat'ions, such as pedaling out the pattern, moving the beater, actuating the shuttle, advancing the material, and maintaining proper width, must be accomplished by means of various arm and leg movements which make handweaving a diflicult task requiring a high degree of skill and coordinated effort.

In order to overcome these difficulties in the art of weaving, this invention contemplates a Weaving device in which the movement of the beater on a handweaving loom device effects the operation aand control of the pattern, the raising of frames to form the shed, the control and motivation of the shuttle device, the control of the width of the cloth beam, and the regulation of the movement of the cloth beam as the weaving progresses. All of these operations and controls are accomplished in their proper sequence during the reciprocation of the beater so that one work phase is followed'by another to produce the desiredpattern as the cloth beam is formed during the Weaving operation. .This arrangement elim ihates the need for complicated pedal mechanisms and balancing spring actions and effects the simplification of the handweaving loom making-most of the operations automatic.

This invention contemplates .a loom device in which the actuation of .the beater changes automatically the pattern selecting mechanism and simultaneously there with vautQmatically controls and manipulates passage of the shuttle to effect the weaving operation by tensioning and triggering a picker mechanism. Also, by the coupling of conventional apparatus to the beater, the desired forward movement of the cloth beam and the control of the width of the cloth beam is accomplished by the actuation of the beater so as to effect the automatic control of all operations and phases of the weaving of the cloth by one movement, which operations heretofore required the use of varied arm and leg movements to operate each individual mechanism separately.

The object of this invention is to provide an automatic handweaving device in which the actuation of the beater during the weaving operation provides the motivation and control of all of the individual operations necessary to produce a cloth beam.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic handweaving device in which pattern selection and shuttle setting and actuating are accomplished automatically by thereciprocating motion of the beater.

A 'still further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism in which the heddle frames are automatically raised in accordance with a set pattern by the reciprocating motion ofthe beater.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the indexing of a pattern block selecting mechanism to present a set pattern during each stroke of the weaving operation by the reciprocating motion of the beater.

A still further object is to provide for the automatic setting, triggering, and releasing of a shuttle manipulating mechanism during each reciprocation of the beater.

A still further object is to provide for. automatic manipulation of the shuttle from one side to the other or consecutively from one side by each reciprocation of the beater.

Another object is to provide for the cocking and looking of a spring biased picker and the controlled releas thereof by each reciprocation of the beater. I

A further object is to provide for the automatic control and operation of the pattern selecting mechanism, the shuttle manipulating mechanism, the width control of the cloth beams, and the advancement of the cloth beam by the reciprocation of the beater.

These and other objects will become apparent on examination of the drawings, description, and claims.

The invention will be described in greater detail in the following paragraphs by reference to figures of the Figure 2 is a front sectional view in elevation showing the indexing pattern block in indexed position and the mechanism for raising the heddle frames,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional plan view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 showing the heddle frames in the harness box and the position of the pattern block with respect to the heddle shaft,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing oneside of the picker mechanism in a tensioned position,

Figure 5 is a view .in perspective showing the details or" one side of the picker mechanism and the picker tensioning bracket,

Figure 6 is a crossgsectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 showing the picker bar release and guide bar arrangement, t

Figures .7 through 10 are fragmentary end views-showing the various positions of the wedges for actuating and indexing the pattern block,

2,930,410 pat nte Mar. 29, 1960, H

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the positional relationship of the indexing pattern block raising and lowering wedges,

Figure 12 is a'fragmentary plan view showing a camming means for resetting the picker release bar and guide bar,

Figure 13 is front elevational view showing the indexing pattern block mechanism,

Figure 14 is a side elevational view showing the indexing pattern block mechanism,

Figure 15 is a plan view taken on line 15-15 of Figure 14 showing the indexing pattern block mechanism, and

Figure 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Figure 15 showing the swingable finger in operating position.

Referring to Figure 1, number designates an automatic handweaving loom having a loom frame 11. Operatively connected to the loom frame is a heater mechanism 12. The heater mechanism has a top crossbar 13, which serves as a grip bar for hand actuation of the beater, and downwardly extending legs 14 pivoted to the lower portion of the frame of the loom by pivot pins to allow the beater to be actuated in a back-and-forth manner with respect to the frame of the loom.

Positioned midway between the beater legs is a horizontal cross-connecting push bar 16 which supports a means for indexing pattern selection mechanism 17. On the inside surface of the push bar is centrally located a bracket 18 having an inwardly directed yoke portion 19. Mounted in yoke 19 is a vertically disposed driving wedge 20 pivoted at one end in yoke 19 by pivot pin 21. The forward end of the driving wedge has a downwardly extending slanted portion 22 extending towards push bar 16 (see Figure 11) At the pivoted end of the vertical driving wedge member is a spring 23, which spring biases the wedge member to the bracket 18 so that there is freedom of movement about the pivot pin 21 when the wedge is biased upward. The upper surface of the driving wedge is free to ride against a horizontally arranged crosspiece 24 forming a part of the loom frame. Positioned under the slanted portion 22 of the wedge 20 and lying transverse thereto is a lever 25 pivotally mounted to the loom frame 11 at the left end by a pivot pin 26 and extending across the front of the loom. The other end of the lever extends beyond the right side of the loom frame and has pivoted thereto a vertically extending connecting link 27 (see Figure 2).

The lever 25 has an inclined notch 28 in the upper side thereof adapted to receive the slanted portion 22 of the driving wedge 20 so that inward movement of the wedge exerts a downward thrust on lever 25 by riding of the slanted portion over the surface of the notch while the top of the wedge is held firmly against the crosspiece 24. The downward thrust of lever 25 causes the pivoting of the lever about left side of the loom frame thereby effecting the downward movement of the vertical link 27.

Adjacent to bracket 18 is a second bracket 29 having an inwardly directed yoke portion 30. A vertically disposed driving wedge 31 is pivotally mounted in the yoke portion 30. The other end of the wedge has an upwardly slanting portion 32 and the bottom portion of the wedge slides in a guide track 33 lying parallel to the wedge. The guide track 33 is fixed to the loom frame 11 (see Figure 11).

On the underside of lever 25 positioned over the wedge 31 is a notch 34, adapted to receive in sliding relationship therewith the slanted portion 32. When the wedge 31 is moved outward, the slanted portion imparts a rising action to lever 25 as the wedge rides in the guide track 33.

This arrangement of parallel, oppositely directed, inclined wedges provides a means for lowering or raising the link end of lever 25 by the inward and outward motion, respectively, of the beater (see Figures 7 through 10). The angle of the driving wedge 31 is steeper in order to more quickly push the link described later.

At the right-hand side of the loom frame is a patternselecting mechanism 35. The pattern-selecting mechanism is attached to the frame by top bracket 36 and bottom bracket 37. Disposed between brackets 36 and 37 is a vertical shaft 38 upon which the pattern selecting mechanism rides. Attached to the side of the loom frame are two vertically extending parallel flanges 39 and 40, the rear flange 40 having an inwardly inclined portion 41 with respect to the flanges. The flanges 39 and 40 have vertical guide portions 42 and 43 disposed at right angles to the side of the loom frame, and the inclined portion 41 has a cam portion 44 perpendicular to the side of the loom frame.

Centrally mounted on vertical shaft 38 is an indexing pattern block 45 free to rotate and move vertically thereon. The indexing block 45 has four vertical sides or faces 46 of equal length. Each side has four notches 47 evenly spaced in the lower part of the face and extending inwardly into the bottom of the block. Mounted in each notch is a swingable finger 48 which pivots about a pivot pin from a downwardly extending, vertical position to a horizontally extended position with respect to the face in which the finger is mounted. By this arrangement, any one of the four fingers in each face can be placed in a horizontal position, thereby presenting a pattern arrangement in each face of the indexing block. Each quarter turn of the block brings the desired pattern selection in the form of horizontally disposed fingers, as the block is indexed about shaft 38. The fingers are so fitted that the sides of each finger frictionally bind on the side of the notch in which it is mounted so that the fingers are retained in a horizontal position after setting. It will be appreciated, however, that any form of detent or catch means may be employed to hold the finger in a horizontal position and still permit movement from one position to the other; such means may be a removable, horizontally fitted pin which, when inserted, projects horizontally from the face or other like mechanisms.

Integral with the top surface of the indexing block a vertical indexing dog 49 centrally located and disposed around shaft 38. The indexing dog has four evenly spaced, slanted cam surfaces 50, each terminating in a point at one end and in a groove at the bottom of the slanted surface. In the top portion of the shaft 38 is a crosspin 51 having extensions 52 for engaging the slanted cam surfaces 50 at the top portion of the ascent of the indexing block (see Figures 2 and 14).

The indexing block 45 is rotatably mounted on a cylindrical hub 53 centrally located around shaft 38. Hub section 53 has oppositely disposed, horizontally extending pins 54 which connect with links 27 (see Figure 2).

In the shaft 38 is a vertically extending groove 55 providing a track in which a dog-point set screw 56 located in the cylindrical hub rides so as to allow only the hub to be actuated vertically on shaft 38 by the vertical movement of link 27. This arrangement provides the connecting link between the traverse lever 25 operated by the wedge mechanism 17 to effect the vertical reciprocation of the pattern selecting mechanism as the beater 1.2 is actuated in a back-and-forth manner.

Each face 46 is provided with an extension 57 in the form of a vertically disposed flange which is a continuation of each face 46 and projects beyond the adjacent perpendicular face forming the corner of the block (see Figure 15). The extensions 57 are in the direction of rotation of the block and when each face is parallel with the side of the loom, there is presented a flange extending inwardly toward the side of the loom frame and one parallel therewith.

The indexing pattern block 45 is maintained after each indexing in a position so that one face of the block is parallel to the side of the loom frame during the lower portion of its travel. In this position, the flange perpenupward, as will be of a heddle shaft 63.

a if? dicular to theface of the'block is adjacentto thevertically disposed -guide portion 42 of bracket 39 while the flange parallel to the side of the loom frame lies perpendicular to the vertical guide portion 43 of the bracket 40. Upward motion of the indexing block causes vertical flange portions 42 and 43 to guide the face of the indexing block until the face is clear of the guide portion at which time the indexing block is free to be rotated. Near the top of the upward movement, opposite cam surfaces 50 of the indexing dog 49 are brought into contact with the short pins 52, and further-upward movement causes the indexing block to turn through an arc of about 70 as the fixed pins 52 ride over the cam surfaces 50 until the top of the stroke has been reached. Downward motion of the pattern block brings one of the 'extended flanges 57 into engagement with slanted cam surface 43 causing the block to be indexed through an additional 20 arc to effect a quarter turning of the block and aligning of the next face of the block parallel with the side of the loom having thereon a different pattern arrangement. Thus there is provided an indexing mechanism which effects the'turning of a block through onequarter of a revolution to present in sequence horizontal fingers extending toward the side of the loom according to a set pattern arrangement, as will be described later in more detail.

Positioned in the middle of the frame of the loom is a harness-chest 58 having a series of vertically aligned slots 59 oppositely arranged on each side of the loom. Slidably mounted in slots 59 is a series of four parallel heddle frames 60 lying adjacent to each other in a vertical position (see Figures 2 and 3). The bottom of each heddle frame has a centrally located circular cavity 61 adapted to receive a circular boss 62 forming one end Each heddle shaft is pivotally mounted at the center of the shaft portion on a pivot pin 64 which is secured to the frame of the loom. The other ends of the heddle shafts extend beyond the-side of the loom frame between brackets 39 and 40 and in vertical alignment with and positioned directly under the fingers 48 of the face of the indexing block lying parallel to the side of the loom. Each heddle shaft is operatively connected to one heddle framethrough the circular boss 62 so that pivotal movement of any group of the heddle shafts produces the raising and lowering of the operatively connected heddle frame (see Figure 2). The protruding ends of the heddle shafts between brackets 39 and 4d are raised in accordance with the pattern arrangement present on each face of the indexing pattern block by the fingers which are extended horizontally in accordance with a set pattern arrangement. Each downward movement of the block causes the extended fingers to engage the corresponding ends of the heddle shaft, thereby raising the corresponding heddle frames to form the desired shed.

It will be appreciated that, although the pattern selecting mechanism has been illustrated showing a square in: dexing block, any polygonal block having equal sides may be used with a corresponding number of heddle shafts to effect the automatic pattern selection during the weaving operation. V v

Beater 12'has connected to the bottom portion of each leg 14 an outwardly extending horizontal flange 65. Pivoted to the outer end of flange 65 is a pickstick 66 extending upwardly. The pick sticks are free-to pivot about pins 67 in a plane toward and away from the side of the loom. Centrally mounted on each front .leg of the loom frame 11 is a pick stick tensioning bracket 68 which extends outwardly from the side of the loom frame and has therein an opening in which the beater leg 14 can move during its forward and backward motion.. The face of the bracket 68 has an inwardly inclined surface, 69 which provides a camming surface upon which the pick stick rides as the beater is moved forward and backward. This camming surface imparts headers 7 e nn ontward motion to'the'pick stick as th'e'beater is moved outwardly from the harness frame. Near the top of each pick stick is a tensioning spring 70 which provides a biasing between the pick stick 66 and the leg 14 of the beater so that the pick stick is held in contact with the camming surface during the forward motion of the heater.

Attached to thebeater 14 and forming a part thereof is a shuttle box arrangement 71 lying across the front of the loom (see'Figure 4). The shuttle box arrangement has a groove'or track 72 for carrying the weft thread through the shed during the weaving operation. Each pick stick is connected to an end of the shuttle 'box arrangement by a lead chain ,73 which limits motion when the pick stick'is released and moves inwardly. f

"Connectedto each pick stick is a picker '74 in the form of a half-circle adapted to ride in track 72. The ipicker 74 has 'a circular portion 75 which rests against the inside face '76 of the top of the pick stick and "is operatively connected thereto by a spring '77 which tends to buffer the stopping of the motion of the picker when it is propelled inwardly on track 72. Oppositely disposed to the circular portion 75 of the picker is a flat face 78 lying perpendicular to the plane of the track 72. In the flat face of the picker is a notch 79 adapted to receive the pointed end of a shuttle 80 which rides the track during the movement from one side of the loom to the other (see Figure 4).

At the bottom portion of the face of the picker is a second'notch '81 for locking the picker in its outward position; Mounted on the shuttle bar arrangement near each end thereof is a locking bar 82 pivoted to the shuttle box arrangement by a pivot pin 83 and spring biased upwardly by a spring 84 to bring the end of the locking bar into notch 81 to lock it in position. The other end of the locking bar extends inwardly and has a downward depending lug 85. On the rear side of the picker .is a spear-type pull lever 86 pivoted to the picker by a pivot '87. Midway of the lever'is a downward extending boss portion 88 adapted to ride over the extended pivot pin 83 when the picker moves inwardly so ,as to pivot the spear-type lever about the pivot pin 87 and raise the inwardly directed portion of the lever. The other end of the spear-type lever has a spear- .typepoint 89 which extends downwardly and outwardly in the direction of the picker terminating in a notch 90.

Located in the loom frame and integral therewithlisa .cross connection 91 which forms a master bar' arrangement forreleasing the shuttle actuating mechanism and controlling the alternate actuation of the shuttle from oneside to the other. In the cross connecting bar is a horizontal slot 92 having a sliding master bar 93 therein with a guide bar 94 and a release bar 95 positioned near each end thereof and positioned laterally to the slot (see Figure 6). together, spaced a short distance apart on one side'of the master bar, and the other guide bar and release bar are paired and positioned near the other end of. the master bar. This arrangement provides the mechanism for controlling the alternate manipulation of the shuttle from one side of the loom to the other. The release bar is positioned under one of the lugs so that backward motion of the beater 12 causes the lug to ride the inclined surface of the release bar 95, forcing the locking end of the locking bar 82 out of contact with notch 81.- This removes therestraint on the picker and allows the spring.- tensioned pick stick to impart an impact to the picker which in turn drives the shuttle to the other side of the loom riding track 72. For limiting the travel of the picker, a limiting device is provided. When the tension; ing spring is placed under tension, the picker as well'as One guide bar and one release bar are paired lever 96 pivotably mounted by pivot pin 97. This safety lever is swung intoposition below the pull lever before the beater pulls forward and the pick sticks put under tension, so that both pull levers may not be actuated together. The safety lever automatically resumes its retracted position when full operation begins,

Located on the left-hand side of the loom in the beater push bar is mounted a vertically disposed, spring-loaded push rod 98 extending through the beater bar and through a portion of the shuttle box arrangement. Under the shuttle box arrangement, the rod 98 has a right-angle portion 99 lying parallel with the front of the loom, and a downwardly extending portion 100. Attached to the downward portion 100 is a wedge-shaped cam 101. The wedge-shaped cam is positioned so that the release bar is in a released position for the left-hand picker, the downward thrust of the spring-loaded rod places the wedge surface of the cam in a position where inward motion of the beater causes the cam surface to engage the left-hand guide bar forcing the right-hand release bar towards the right side of the loom, placing the right-hand release bar in a position to release the right-hand picker (see Figure 12). This arrangement allows for the actuation of several shuttles from one side of the loom.

It is to be understood that other equivalent types of spring-biasing mechanism can be used for the actuation of the shuttle such as pneumatic, or hydraulic actuating means.

In operation, when the beater 12 is moved towards the harness chest or box that is away from the cloth beam, the driving wedge 20 presses down on lever 25 moving the pattern block 45 downward. The fingers positioned horizontally according to a set pattern engage the ends of corresponding heddle shafts to raise the connected heddle frames to produce the desired shed. When the driving wedge has raised the heddle frames the required 8 cm., the wedge then glides along the straight edge of its under side over lever 25 thus holding the shed in an open position. The driving wedge can be put out of action by moving its point by hand under lever 25 when the beater is pushed back from the cloth beam to the frame box. This becomes necessary when the shed would have to be closed, for example, when a thread breaks or when arranging the warp.

Driving wedge 31 has an opposite driving effect on lever 25. Also, the angle is steeper than driving wedge 20 in order to more quickly effect the pushing of the pattern block upwardly by means of lever 25. When the block has reached the required height, that is, when the beater has been moved forward towards the cloth beam lever 25 glides along on the upper straight edge of wedge 31 and the block is held in the upward position for the duration of that gliding action until the beater has performed its beating action at the edge of the cloth beam. In pushing back the heater, that is, from the cloth beam to the harness frame, lever 25 is forced downwardly by wedge 20. Oppositely, when the heater is moved forward from the harness box, wedge 20 must first release lever 25, then, after a certain idling period wedge 31 becomes active and presses lever 25 upward, and simultaneously block 45 is moved upward.

When the block 45 is moving upwardly, shortly after leaving its contact with the heddle shafts, the pattern block 45 is turned through an arc of about 70 degrees by engagement of the indexing dog 49 with stationary short pins 54. In gliding downwardly until it is almost above the heddle shafts, the block is turned through an arc of an additional 20 degrees, thus aligning the next face 46 of the pattern block to present another sequence in the pattern selection. Thus the swung-out fingers of this next aligned face begin to function, that is, to engage the ends of the corresponding heddle shafts. As the block is pressed downwardly, the corresponding heddle frames are raised to produce the desired shed. The set pattern with the given number of heddle frames (in this case four) now continues running until a new crossweaving pattern is installed which can be accomplished in from 15 to 20 seconds.

In addition to the coupling of the pattern selecting mechanism with the beater the back-and-forth movement of the beater is coupled with the shuttle manipulating mechanism as well as with the winding of the cloth beam and the width control mechanism. The shuttle is cast from one side of the loom to the other when the shed reaches its maximum height, that is, shortly before the beater strikes the harness box. The shuttle is discharged a.tomatically from left to right, and right to left, but it is possible by a special operation of the beater, as shown in Figures 2 and 12, to have the shuttle thrown out several consecutive times from the same side.

When it is desired to throw two or more shuttles conseeutively from one side of the loom, as is sometimes the case when two or more colors are being used in the weft, the spring loaded rod (part 98) is depressed on the backward stroke of the beater. This lowering of the rod causes the wedgcplate on part 86 to engage guide bar 94 and push it inwardly and thus activating the releasing bar on the side of the loom from which the shuttle has been last cast. This occurs because parts 94 on the left and the right sides of the loom are joined by a bar which causes the one part to move in accordance with the other.

When drawing the beater 12 from the harness box to the cloth beam, the tension springs 70 are placed under tension as the pick sticks 66 are forced outwardly with respect to the side of the loom around the tensioning brackets 68. Pick stick 66 thereby glides over the inclined portion of tension bracket 68 and continues running in a straight line when the required tension has been reached and the picker is locked in position.

When the required spring tensioning of the pick stick has been reached, the locking bar 82 is brought to rest in notch 81 by means of spring action provided by spring 84. When the pick stick 66 is put under tension, the picker 74, which is spring-connected to the end of the pick stick, is also drawn outward. Stop or notch 81, cut out of the lower portion of picker 74, receives the locking bar 82 to hold the picker from imparting momentum to the shuttle until it is released. The picker is freely movable on a groove or track 72 which is positioned in the floor of the shuttle box 71. Shortly before the beater being pressed backward reaches the harness box, the locking bar is released by one of the release bars 95, thus allowing for the actuation of the tension spring and discharge of the shuttle by means of the picker. In order that the tension spring may turn freely, connecting spring 77 essentially cancels out the effect of limiting device 73, which holds the pick stick 66 in such a position that it remains at the proper angle to the inclined striking point of tension bracket 68. The shuttle is thrown, not forced, out by a striking action, and therefore its movement occurs without the usual striking noises.

Since the shuttle must normally move from left to right, and right to left, it must be released correspondingly. In order to achieve this alternation, the position of release bar on the left and the right must be changed after each casting of the shuttle. When the tensioning spring is put under tension, the picker, as well as the pull lever 86, are drawn outwardly from the side of the loom frame. During the discharge it moves as far as the picker.

Master bar 93 moves freely back and forth in slot 92 of the cross-connection 91. The guide bars 94 are positioned in such a manner that the pull lever passes freely thereover when the picker is released and travels for a limited distance on the track 72. When the picker is re leased, the pull lever will move in the same direction as the picker and its spear-shaped nose will glide over guide bar 94.. When the pick stick is tensioned, that is, the beater moved forwardly from the harness box, the Dicker asses-re is once more tensioned by being pulled outwardiy. This outward motion of the picker allows the pull lever to grip guide bar 94 and pull the releasing bar in position. At this moment, the oppositely located release bar has been brought into the proper position to release the locking bar on the opposite side when the beater is pushed back. Normally, only one of the discharge devices is under tension at one time during the weaving cycle. Should it be desired to have both under tension simultaneously (as at the beginning of the weaving), the safety lever 96 affixed to the right-hand locking bar may be used. This safety lever is swung into position below the pull lever before the heater is put under tension, so that both pull levers may not be actuated together. The safety lever resumes its retracted position when full operation begins.

To discharge the shuttle several consecutive times from any one side, for example, when two or more colors are being shot consecutively, the spring-loaded rod 9 3 afiixed to the beater push bar, is pressed down during the'backward stroke of the beater. This lowering of the rod places the wedge plate in position to engage the guide bar 94 and push it inwardly, thus activating the releasing bar on the side of the loom from which the shuttle has been last cast.

When a certain amount of weaving has been accomplished and the edge of the woven material forming the cloth beam begins to get too close to the harness frame and the shed becomes too narrow for the proper casting of the shuttle, when this occurs, the warp must be taken up. The conventional type of cloth beam winding mechanism can be used for this take-up coupled to the beater mechanism so that several actuations of the beater will advance the cloth beam. Enough woven material should be taken up so that the edge of the weaving is about'3 or 3 /2 inches from the breast beam. The mechanism for winding may be of a conventional type coupled to the. beater in a conventional manner.

Also, during the weaving process the edge of the woven material which has a tendency to draw towards the center can be stretched by the use of width maintainer in a well-known conventional manner. The width maintainer may be connected to the beater so that the actuation of the beater will perform the necessary stretching of the material in the cloth beam.

The automatic handweaving loom device of this invention operates silently, efliciently, and without the use of many hand and leg motions that heretofore have been required. Thus, there is effected a handweaving apparatus in which the individual operations are accomplished automatically, opening a new field of income for the blind and the legless and providing a simplification of the operation of a hand loom, thereby substantially increasing the output of this type of loom.

What is claimed is:

1. A handweaving loom device compr sing a loom, heddles and heddle shafts for raising said heddles, a beater operatively connected to said loom, linkage means connected to said beater for operating a pattern-selecting mechanism attached to said loom during each reciprocation of said beater, said pattern-selecting mechanism comprising a rotatable block equipped with fingers extending outwardly therefrom, said rotatable block being slidably mounted on a shaft and operatively connected to said beater for movement along said shaft, means for rotating said block when moved towards one end of said shaft, said fingers adapted to actuate said heddle shafts when said block is moved towards the opposite. end of said shaft whereby to raise said heddles in order to form a shed according to the pattern selected during each reciprocation of said beater, and means connected to said beater for automatically manipulating a shuttle through said shed during each reciprocation of said beater.

2. A handweaving loom device gomprising a loom,

heddles and heddle shafts for raising said heddles; ii beater operatively connected to said-loom, linkage means connected to said heater for operating 'a pattern-selecting mechanism attached to said loom during each reciproca tion ofsaid beater, saidpattern-selecting mechanism comprising a rotatable 'block equipped with fingers extending outwardly therefrom, said rotatable blocle being "slidably mounted on a shaft, cam means attached to the surface of said block and cooperating means near one end portion of said shaft for rotating said block when moved towards said end of the shaft by said beater, saidfingers adapted to actuate said heddle shafts when said block is moved towards the opposite end of said shaft whereby to raise said heddles in order to form a shed according to the pattern selected during each reciprocation of said heater, and means connected to said beater for automatically manipulating a shuttle through said shed during each reciprocation of said heater.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the linkage means between said beater and said block of said pattern-selecting mechanism comprises a lever adapted to move said block in one direction on said shaft when actuated by means on said beater when the heater is operating in one direction and said lever is adapted to move said block in the other direction when said beater is operating in the other direction. 7

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the linkage means between said beater and said block of said pattern-selecting mechanism comprises a horizontal push bar mounted on said beater, a first driving wedge, a second wedge, first driving wedge and second wedge being suitably mounted on said push bar, first driving wedge being downwardly slanted towards said pushbar, said second wedge having an upwardly slanting portion away from said push bar, a lever adapted at one end to actuate said pattern-selecting mechanism, said lever being transverse the wedges, said first wedge positioned to ride on one surface of said lever and said second wedge positioned to ride the oppositely disposed surface of said lever.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said rneans for manipulating a shuttle comprises pick sticks operatively connected to each side of the beater, cam means adapted ing means to tension said pick sticks, shuttle box arrangement, .said pick sticks being operatively connected to a picker at each end of said shuttle box' arrangement, each of said pickers being locked into tensioned position by a lever means, means to displace one of said levers whereby to release that picker.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said lever means and means to displace said lever comprises a horizontally disposed lever pivotally mounted at substantially its midportion, said lever having one end in abutment with said picker, the other end portion riding on the slanting por tion of a wedge mounted on said loom, whereby said end portion is inclined from the horizontal when said'picker is moved laterally thereby bringing the other end of said lever out of abutment with said picker.

7. A heald shaft actuating mechanism for looms for raising, in a predetermined sequence, a series of heald shafts to form a shed according to a predetermined pattern, comprising a plurality of heald shafts, a rotatable pattern carrier having thereon a plurality of heald shaft actuating means, means for effecting unidirectional in 'dexing of said pattern carrier to operatively connect a selection of said heald shaft actuating means to said heald shafts to effect operation thereof in predetermined pattern arrangement, means for preventing reversal of direction of rotation of said pattern carrier, said pattern carrier having heald shaft actuating levers to be pivoted outwardly from said pattern carrier into an operative position to actuate corresponding heald shafts, said pat- 11 12 tern carrier being mounted on a shaft which is posi- References Cited in the file of this patent tioned generally normal to said heald shaft levers so 3 UNITED STATES PATENTS that displacement of said pattern carrier along said shaft causes said actuating levers in the operative position to 571226 Walker et Aug. 14, 1866 move corresponding heald shafts, and means to actuate 5 961238 Jones 1869 said pattern carrier indexing means with each displace- 107,094 Nute Sept' 1870 319,475 French et al. June 9, 1885 ment of said pattern carrier. 

